gambit system is overhyped!
I've been reading an article in RPGfan.com about FFXII's gambit system. As some of you know, FFXII is NOT in the list of my "top tier" RPG's and i feel that its gambit system is one of the most overrated "innovations" in RPG history.
Here are some things that I would like to point out:
1.) The gambit system creates a DECENT ai. They didn't really make something spectacular, it's just that the AI that controls your party members in other games are a LOT more stupid. I mean, come on..... I want an AI that heals me when i have low hp, use the correct status spells/items, revive me when i get KO'ed. Is that really too much to ask? O_o I'm no programmer, but that sounds REALLY easy to code. Oh, btw, Tales of the Abyss's A.I. is also good. Looks like the gambit system isn't the only decent AI out there.
2.) AI's are more suitable in fast paced (and thus non turnbased) battles where every character is constanty beating something up, or casting something, or is dead. You need AI's because you wont be able to control the characters all at once. Now, in FFXII, it's just a modifed version of the active-time-bar system that is set in active-mode. They could've just turned it into menu based battles and the result will be pretty much the same.
3.) BUT BUT, GAMBIT SYSTEM + NO LOADING SCREENS FOR RANDOM BATTLES = HUGH TIMESAVER!! I dunno, there's just something boring about FFXII's battles. I think it's the combination of boring attack animations, boring casting animations (except for the FEW tiems you use summons/quickenngs, those look cool), repetitve casting of your buffs when you're walking around, and your incredibly boring characters. Oh, about the attack animations, i'm not saying that they need uber-cool moves like in Star Ocean or something, it's just that there's no FLAIR in the way they attack. I mean, they just SWING their swords. After 60 hours of just *watching*, things get pretty boring. Personally, if they wanted to eliminate the loading screens, i would've preferred a Crono Trigger type of system rather than the gambit system for FFXII.
4.) Why in the world should gambits be bought anyway? I mean, can't i just tell balthier: Hey dude, Heal me when my HP is 1/2? or Give me an antidote when i turn purple ok? Noooooo..... Apparently, there's some kind of complex instruction manual on how to do that and you have to buy them for X gil. And why the hell is there 10-line cap in gambits? Me so sorry... You give me too many commands to follow duuuuuuuuuuuh....
5.) What makes the game even more boring is the sucky cast of characters that you have. Balthier is the only person in your group that has ATTITUDE. The others are like BLAH. And what's more? In terms of combat ability, there's pretty much NO difference between the members of your party because of the god-awful license board. The license board has got to be the most retarded invention in the FF series. That or FF8's draw system. In the end, unless you want to use crappy bows, uber-slow guns, or half-baked lances, everybody will probably be equipping swords and hacking away at enemies. And all of them can cast Curaga.
6.) And don't get me even started with the story...
But then again, FFXII's graphix pretty much trumps any flaws it has in the gameplay department. So i'll still give it a high rating XD
posted by Fred @ 8:15 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
I agree with the fact that FF12 is not a great game, but a good one.
For me, its mainly because of the crappy story and bland characters.
Pero ung gambits, ok lng sakin. I thought a ragnarok player like you wouldn't mind the gambit system.
haha
regarding the license board, other ff games kind of have the same thing; i.e. sphere grid and the job system.
btw, magggalit si kabo sayo nyan... trashing his favorite game. haha
Sphere grids are specialized per character. If you powerleveled enough, you will eventually get all the spheres of each caracter. But if you just followed the story and didnt powerlevel, each character will have a unique role in your party (black magic, healer, power damager, status effect dealer etc)
Yes, job system and license board are pretty much the same in the sense that they make characters generic. The problem i have with the license board is that it AGGRAVATES the fact that FFXII character are already bland in the first place. Then it makes the characters pretty much the same in combat X_X Oh and, the license board is a stupid concept (as shown in the comic strip)
Yes, I would DEFINITELY love to have the gambit system in RO. Oh wait, we do have them. It's called a bot!! XD I'd be great to have a gambits in RO though. But even if there is on, I wont be using it ALL the time. There's satisfaction in clicking (or in the case of FFXII, pressing a button), then seeing you're character attack.
And yes, I agree that FFXII is still a good game. Potang graphix yan eh X_X
You're nuts if you don't think the gambit system is an improvement to the bland Press Circle until opponent dies system of most turn based RPGs.
You're playing Suikoden 5 now, don't tell me you don't abuse the free will button. This just automates it.
I appreciate FFXII for having insanely high production values (I dare you to find me a game within its generation with higher production values), taking a risk with the systems in the genuine FF style and the first 10 hours of the game.
The license board was heinous though.
For the first 10 hours, it really was the greatest game ever.
The bland press-O system sucks if all you have to do is press "attack". The best way to avoid this is to create more interesting, more variety, or more diffucult enemies (Persona, FFX, lunar). They can also make animations of the attack more interesting to watch.
I admit, i usually use "autobattle" in suikoden 5, but watching my party attack (charging in at the opponent, hitting them once or twice, dealing crits,etc.), and the occational coop attacks makes those insanely easy battles a lot more interesting to watch.
Compare it to FFXII, during those random encounters, 2-3 of your party members will close in on the enemies, wait for their ATB to charge, then swing their sword. Swish! Then wait for the ATB again. Then Swish! After clearing the enemies. You walk on, encounter another batch of enemies, and then SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
The only thing i like about the Gambit system (when used in FFXII) was the absence of loading times. Considering i'm playing Suikoden 5 now, you must get an idea how much I look back at FFXII and just CRAVE for it's nearly negligble load times. Then i look at my TV and see the suikoden-hero-running-in-the-grass animation.. DAMNNN YOUUUU!!!
Afterwards, it loads, i'm immersed in a BRILLIANT story once again (unless i'm recruiting SoD's), and everything is all right. Take that Vayne Solidor!
Lunar didn't really have a lot of variety in enemies. They were just hard >< (Damn you Zophar!)
I thought the no random encounter bit and gambit system made FFXII's gameplay really good. I'd probably take FFX's system over it if pressured but every other FF pales to FFXII's system. (Not to say I want to see this in every subsequent Final Fantasy. Just that it worked for what it was trying to do)
As said, I think FFXII is unfinished. There were rumors that the director fell ill in the middle and someone else had to take over. The first 10 hours was really awesome and, given that you know how much of a Suikoden fan I am, I take those first 10 hours over any Suikoden.
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